We've established partnership with local colleges, St. Cloud School District 742, Sauk Rapids-Rice School District 47, and Spanier, Voigt's, and Trobec bussing to help introduce middle and high school-aged students in the community to college campuses.

St. Cloud State Bigs on Campus: Students from South Junior High or St. Cloud Tech High School are bussed twice a month to St. Cloud State University where they meet one-on-one with their mentor, attend group activities, partake in tours and campus activities and get to see what a college campus is like. Matches often spend time in the Atwood Underground going bowling, playing pool and ping pong. They also head down to Halenback Hall to shoot hoops and go rock climbing. This unique experience allows students to envision themselves on a college campus and helps them to plan for their future. Bigs involved in this program are SCSU staff, faculty and students, along with SCSU alumni and local business professionals. Students at South Junior High are typically enrolled in sixth grade and Tech High School students can be enrolled in grades nine through 11. These students are selected by ISD 742 staff. Matches are asked to commit to at least 12 full months.

Saint Ben's/Saint John's Bigs on Campus: Students from Kennedy Community School are bussed twice a month to the College of Saint Benedict where they meet one-on-one with their mentor, attend group activities, partake in tours and campus activities and get to see what a college campus is like. Matches will also have the opportunity to go to Saint John’s University several times throughout the year. This unique experience allows students to envision themselves on multiple college campuses and helps them to plan for their future. Bigs involved in this program are CSB/SJU faculty, staff and students. Students can be enrolled in sixth and seventh grade and are selected by school staff. Matches are asked to commit to at least 12 full months.

SCTCC Bigs on Campus: Students from the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School are bussed twice a month to St. Cloud Technical & Community College where they meet one-on-one with their mentor, attend group activities, partake in tours and campus activities and get to see what a college campus is like. Matches may also have the opportunity to go off campus to nearby Whitney Park. This unique experience allows students to learn more about the option of a two-year degree after high school, and helps them to plan for their future. Bigs involved in this program are SCTCC faculty and staff and local business professionals. Students from SRR can be enrolled in grades nine through 11 and are selected by school staff. Matches are asked to commit to at least 12 full months.

This video has been translated into Somali and contains information regarding the Bigs on Campus Mentoring Initiative.